ISHS Acta Horticulturae 342: International Symposium on Horticultural Substrates other than Soil in situ
MICROBIAL ACTIVITY IN MEDIA CONTAINING WORM-WORKED DUCK WASTE |
| Authors: | W.R. Carlile, D.P. Wilson |
| Abstract:
Enhanced growth of horticultural species has been observed in media containing worm worked duck waste as a nutrient source. This enhanced growth could be due to the release of nutrients by microbial activity in media containing worm worked duck waste (WWDW). Microbial activity was therefore monitored in peat media containing varying proportions of WWDW. Activity was primarily measured by determination of CO2 evolution from media. Microbial activity was greater in media containing WWDW than in media containing inorganic sources of nutrients, and was directly proportional to the amount of WWDW in the media. No direct correlation was evident between microbial activity and the availability of major plant nutrients in WWDW amended media, although available nitrate-nitrogen levels increased slightly during storage. | |
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